Epicenter 2010 has announced House of Pain, along with Against Me and Crash Kings to the already eclectic line up of EPICENTER Twenty Ten. This will be House of Pain’s first show in a decade and the group’s only Southern California appearance of 2010. They will join hip hop superstar Eminem (only 1 of 3 performances in the US this year), Blink-182 (their only 2010 concert in North America), KISS (their only 2010 California appearance), the reunited Bush (their first show in 9 years), Rise Against (their only concert in California this year) and many more acclaimed artists. The two-day event will be held on Saturday, September 25th and Sunday, September 26 at Auto Speedway in Fontana, CA.
EPICENTER Twenty Tenis a multi-stage event that will will be held on Saturday, September 25th and Sunday, September 26 at Auto Speedway in Fontana, CA. The annual festival is located just 35 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, right off the 10 freeway. Tickets start as low as $79.50 for a single day ticket and can be purchased now at www.ticketmaster.com/epicenter. For more information about weekend VIP passes, two-day value passes and single day tickets, stop by www.epicenterfestival.com.
Log on and follow http://twitter.com/epicenterfest all summer long for a chance to bring home free tickets and hear about other special offers! EPICENTER Twenty Ten is presented by Right Arm Entertainment (creators of Ohio’s successful Rock on the Range annual festival).
Leading independent studio, E1 Entertainment is thrilled to finalize their production and development deal with legendary rock band KISS. E1 will tap the worldwide enthusiasm for the KISS brand, collaborating with founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley to create a comedic half-hour kids television series that galvanizes the band’s iconic personas for its young fans.
“We’re honored to be involved in carrying on the KISS legacy,” comments Frank Saperstein, Senior VP of Kids and Animation for E1. “It’s wonderful to collaborate with the creative forces behind one of the greatest rock bands of all time and unquestionably one of the most recognized worldwide.”
E1 has snagged the KISS brand as it eclipses its roots, building energy in new family and youth media outlets. KISS’s role as the face of Dr. Pepper, their significant presence during Super Bowl XLIV, and their appearance on the 2009 American Idol Finale, which reached over thirty million viewers, has made the make-up and leather-clad giants a household name for kids and families today. The KISS tradition continues to grow generation after generation transcending age, race and creed.
“KISS continues to be the juggernaut of licensing and merchandising, from KISS M&M’s to KISS Dr Pepper,” remarks KISS co-founder Gene Simmons, “KISS is a band, but also the only music BRAND. Continuing in our 35 year history of going where no band has gone before, we are proud to partner with E1. Like all things KISS, we intend to make this a very special show for our fans.”
“We couldn’t be more excited. Coupling E1’s successes and ingenuity with the global force of KISS guarantees an express pass into the homes of our youngest KISS Army members with a show of superior quality,“ adds KISS co-founder Paul Stanley.
The as- yet untitled series will be produced and distributed worldwide by E1. Executive Producers are John Morayniss and Frank Saperstein for E1 Entertainment; Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS. E1 and KISS will handle all licensing and merchandise for the series.
Fans anxiously awaiting for a taste of Dr Dre’s new album Detox need to check out a new ad that teams the good doctor with a icon, Dr Pepper.
Dr. Dre’s long delayed record will get a super short debut when a new campaign featuring the rapper starts airing from June 1, 2009. During the ‘Trust Me, I’m A Doctor’ clip a beat from the record, which is expected to be released in late 2009, gets played for several seconds.
In the ad, Dre says: “Scientific tests prove when you drink Dr. Pepper slow, the 23 flavors taste even better. For me, slow always produces a hit.”
Other spots in the campaign feature hoops icon Julius Erving (a.k.a. “Dr. J”), Kelsey Grammer (a.k.a. “Dr. Frasier Crane”) and Gene Simmons (a.k.a. “Doctor Love”).
Detox currently slated for a late 2009 release on Interscope.
The time forreminiscinghas come and gone! The dedicated staff of Icon Vs. Icon invites you to take a look ahead at the most anticipated albums of 2009!
Steve Johnson’s Pick: As 2009 approaches, there has been a buzz about many metal and hard rock artists that plan to head back to the studio and serve a heaping helping of new material to the fans. Just a few of these artists are KISS, Slash, Megadeth, and Iron Maiden. While I am a huge fan of all of those previously mentioned and would love to hear new music from them, I find myself looking forward to Rob Zombie’s new material the most. I have been a huge fan of Zombie since his days in White Zombie and thought his last album Educated Horses was some of his best work yet. Zombie has stated in recent interviews that this is the first time he has recorded an album with his band since his days in White Zombie. I am interested to see how recording an album with his band affects his music and hope that he tours in support of it, as I have never seen him perform live. There is no firm release date for the album, but Zombie indicated it would be out sometime before the end of the year. I guess War Zone from the Punisher: War Zone soundtrack will have to hold me over until then.
Jen X’s Pick: I have three: Queens of the Stone Age, Green Day and Spinnerette. I am stoked that it’s only taken two years for QotSA to come up with more material they feel worthy of their next lp, in addition I’m even happier that this will mean we will be treated to another North American tour. Frontman Josh Homme always has his hands in many projects, one of them being the upcoming release of his wife Brody Dalle’s band Spinnerette. A five-track free download can be found at Spinnerette’s website and their feature-length debut should hit the market in February of 2009. If you haven’t heard the band, do yourself a favor and head over to their site where you can also watch a full-length video of their current single “Ghetto Love.”
It was recently released that Green Day will be putting out their eighth CD sometime in 2009 and that they are currently recording at the same studio in which they recorded American Idiot. I’ve read that their influences for this LP are, to name a few, The Beatles, Springsteen and Bob Dylan. If so it would seem that Green Day is moving on from their punk rock sound, and I find it interesting that this is the spin put out to media outlets about the new project. Still, I am looking forward in reviewing the CD and will believe that Billie Joe Armstrong has left his bad boy image behind when I see and hear it.
Jason Price’s Pick: Legendary rockers KISS have recently revealed that they are goingto release their first studio album since 1998′s Psycho Circus in the coming year. “It’s going to be very much a vintage, classic, ’70s KISS album without much regard to what’s happened since then; it’s back to the roots,” said frontman Paul Stanley in a recent interview. With the right mix of producers, songwriting and marketing, I think we could see yet another second coming of KISS and yet another round of farewell tours. Other notable 2009 releases would be new projects from Lita Ford and L.A. Guns.
There are very few bands in the world who that have the longevity and global success as KISS. KISS is more than just a band: The Demon, The Star Child, The Space Ace and The Cat Man are living legends, pop culture icons, and the undisputed heavyweight champs of Rock n’ Roll. IKONS, a 4-CD collector’s package features a total of 56 tracks with a disc dedicated solely to each iconic persona.
KISS: IKONS
Any KISS fan knows that there is no shortage of KISS material on the market. There have already been several greatest hits packages geared toward the band’s fans over the past several years. What sets IKONS apart from the previous attempts to bottle the magic of KISS, is that Ace Frehley and Peter Criss share equal billing with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. In my opinion, this is truly a strong point of this compilation. All politicking aside, the greatest part about this set is that once you pop this set into your stereo and hit play, you will be taken on a wild ride with a fantastic sampling of the entire KISS library that is every bit as good today as the first time you heard it!
Disc 1 is entitled “The Demon” and features the works of everyone’s favorite blood spewing, fire-breathing bass player: Gene Simmons. “God Of Thunder” kicks off the set and really showcases the larger than life sound that KISS is known for. There is no shortage of hits here, with classics such as “Calling Dr. Love,” “Deuce,” and “Rock N’ Roll All Nite.” Those tunes would be expected on any compilation and rightly so. A real treat is the inclusion of such lesser known songs, such as “Ladies Room,” “Charisma,” and “Larger Than Life.”
Disc 2 is entitled “The Star Child” and features the best of Paul Stanley, a true gold standard when it comes to charismatic frontmen. All of Paul’s expected classics are here as well. “Detroit Rock City,” “Love Gun”, “Strutter” and the classic roller rink anthem “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” make this disc alone a must for any collection. Lesser known but equally quality jams from Paul Stanley include “All American Man,” “Mr. Speed,” and “Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me?.”
Disc 3 is entitled “The Space Ace” and features the power and fury of Ace Frehley. This is a solid and complete representation of Frehley’s work with the band. The disc opens up with the undeniable, head bobbing vibe of “New York Groove” and moves onto classics like “Shock Me” and “Into The Void.”
Disc 4 is entitled “The Cat Man” and features the KISS classics brought to life by Peter Criss. It features almost every song Criss contributed to the band’s catalog. The killer cuts include “Hard Luck Woman,” “Beth,” and “Black Diamond.” It is nice to finally see The Space Ace and The Cat Man get their share of kudos in this format. After all, they certainly played key roles in making KISS the powerhouse it has been for over 30 years.
The packaging for IKONS is definitely as eye catching as the members themselves. The outside sleeve is jet-black and features the iconic KISS logo and the member “Ikons” beautifully rendered in all their metallic glory. Inside the package is a very cool 24-page booklet filled with classic KISS photos and a brief yet wonderfully written history of the band. This set truly is one of the best on the market in regards to price and content. There is no doubt that you get plenty of bang for your buck with IKONS. In an era where the youth of the nation is being exposed to “classic rock n’ roll” via Guitar Hero and Rock Band, this compilation is timely and serves as a terrific jumping off point for fans just discovering the rich history of the band.
Paul Stanley is one of music’s legendary frontmen and has been delivering his brand of rock n’ roll to audiences world wide for over three decades. Now, just in time for the holidays, you can unleash the power of The Star Child’s live show in the comfort of your own living room! One Live Kiss is the first ever offering of Stanley’s live performances on DVD. Filmed during the ‘Live To Win Tour’ back in 2006, the footage was shot live in the intimate setting of Chicago’s House of Blues. Shot by director Lou Antonelli, the film looks to set you in the front row of the show and really captures the fun and energy of Paul Stanley’s live show.
From the moment Paul Stanley takes the stage and you hear the first rockin’ riff, the show grabs hold of the viewer and doesn’t let go until the final note. Stanley’s voice still sounds just as good today, if not better, than it did when KISS first was laying the foundation for their epic career. A frontman can only be as good as the raw talent that plays behind them and as always, Stanley has that base covered as well. The Paul Stanley Band is comprised of Jim McGorman (Guitar, Vocals,) Sasha (Bass, Vocals,) Rafael Moreira (Lead Guitar, Vocals,) and Paul Mirkovich (Musical Director, Keyboard. Vocals,) who served as the house band on the series ‘Rock Star’. The band plays perfectly to all of Stanley’s strengths and look as if they have served alongside him for years.
The setlist for the show is quite diverse and is part of what makes the live show so much fun to watch. Songs from Stanley’s first solo album include “Got To Choose”, “A Million To One” and even “Move On”, show that his brand of songwriting can really stand the test of time. Seeing them performed live is a real treat as several of these songs have been lost in the evolution of the live shows over the years. There are also songs from Stanley’s latest solo offering, Live To Win, which include the title track from that album as well as “Everytime I See You Around” and “Bulletproof”. This songs sound even better when performed live and are certainly every bit as good as any of the older tunes included in the set.
Of course, no outing would be complete if it didn’t include some of these classic KISS songs that have become ingrained in our hearts over the years. “Strutter”, “Love Gun and ‘Detroit Rock City” drive the crowd wild and Paul and his band give the energy back tenfold. There is no doubt that whether he is performing in a huge arena or just a small club, Paul Stanley gives his all to the fans every time he takes the stage. The only shortcoming that this release has is the lack of any extras or bonus footage. It would have been great to see an accompanying tour documentary or a “Making Of” segment. That isn’t to say that you don’t get plenty of bang for your buck already as commanding performance with great sound and song selection are pretty hard to come by these days. If you’re a member of the KISS Army, a fan of Paul’s solo work or just someone looking to see a top notch live performance, you can’t go wrong with One Live Kiss.
TRACKLISTING:
Prologue
Live To Win
Hide Your Heart
A Million To One
Got To Choose
Move On
Bulletproof
Tonight You Belong To Me
Lick It Up
Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me
Magic Touch
I Still Love You
Strutter
Everytime I See You Around
Do You Love Me
I Want You
Love Gun
Lift
Detroit Rock City
Goodbye
Fans anxiously awaiting for a taste of Dr Dre’s new album 
